For kids, going back to school is an important moment where they get to shine, experience the excitement of a fresh start and encounter many new things. As every parent with a school-aged child or seasoned student knows, and every parent-to-be will learn when the time comes, August is the prime month to tackle all of your ‘Back to School’ preparations. Whether that means shopping for the essentials, registering for extracurricular activities or after-school programs, or getting that last minute health check-up or haircut, we have some tips on how to get all these things accomplished like a pro.
Whether students are looking forward to school supplies and new backpacks or hoping to pull up the covers and never let summer end, introducing the new school year at an appropriate pace is important. According to Cristine Minneman of Concordia Lutheran Schools of Omaha, getting your family on a verbal countdown really helps mentally prepare students for the transition from summer to school days. She also advises that regardless of age, it is important for parents to encourage their children to be involved in back to school shopping. Some love the big boxes of crayons, mechanical pencils and colorful folders. Others will enjoy modeling new school clothes in the department store dressing room. Even the older students look forward to a new purchase of the latest trendy footwear. This is a great way to spend some parent/child time and the perfect time to have some productive discussions about the next grade level and thus attract their attention to the importance of education.
The most important part of your family’s transition from summer to school year will be re-establishing the routine. Minneman highly recommends tightening up the bedtime and morning schedule to get back to good sleep habits well ahead of the first day of school. Starting those first days of school without the challenge of fatigue will make a noticeable difference in their attitude. She adds, “Above all else, be there to listen to your children, whether it be anxious comments about a new school or fun conversations about renewing ties with old friends.”
Balancing work, social, and home commitments is no easy task, which is why the team at Premier Dental offers comprehensive family dental services that can be tailored to fit your family’s busy schedule. Parents who have more than one child are invited to schedule joint appointments for their entire family. This significantly cuts back on the 
amount of stress that families often associate with dental visits. Finding an experienced office that treats adults and children is a bonus to families who have tight schedules, and are looking for someone to treat the whole family. Focused on preventative care for the very young, teenagers, adults, and seniors in the same building, the Premier Dental team creates relationships with patients that last years. According to Dr. Beninato of Premier Dental, “Recent studies have shown that the sooner children begin receiving regular check-ups, the healthier their mouths will be throughout their lives. Early childhood check-ups are essential in preventing tooth decay, which leads to pain, difficulty eating, and other medical issues. The American Dental Association recommends that every child should visit the dentist by age 1, or as soon as their first tooth appears.” According to a study by the Center for Disease Control, the number of cavities found in children between the ages of two and five has increased 15 percent over the last five years. More than 40 percent of kids today have tooth decay by the time they start kindergarten. Kids should eat a balanced diet that naturally supplies all the nutrients they need to grow. Kids need a balanced healthy diet for their teeth and gums to develop properly.
Here are some tips to promote good oral hygiene for your child:
• Brush with fluoride toothpaste. If your child is under age 7, use only a pea-sized amount on their toothbrush. It may help prevent cavities.
• Make brushing teeth a fun activity by making up a song to sing or dance to
• Pack healthy snacks such as carrots or celery rather than foods high in sugar content
• Buy flavored floss to make it more appealing to your child
• Teach your kids not to fear the dentist. Visit your family dentist at least twice a year for regular cleanings.
Remembering to brush and floss your teeth at least twice a day is just as important for children as it is for adults. Turning good dental practices into habits early can help avoid problems such as cavities and gum disease down the road. Good oral hygiene can help ward off bad bacteria that causes gum disease and cavities in children, and can positively impact your child’s overall health. It’s never too early to commit to keeping your teeth healthy and your smile bright and confident. Premier Dental offers several incentives for their younger patients and their parents, including contests for kids who not only do well in school but also remain cavity free. Currently they have a Back to School contest that is geared at motivating parents to bring their kids in for a dental check-up and to consistently make that a part of their ‘Back to School’ regimen.
There are many ways that your smartphone or tablet can help you kick off the school year, from capturing the first day of school and organizing school activities and assignments to helping reinforce key homework concepts in an engaging way. At U.S. Cellular, one of their main points of focus is to help parents and students make the most out of what technology can do for them during the busy school year. According to Megan Goeke of U.S. Cellular, “Your smartphone can help simplify your life, save time and enhance learning. According to a recent survey we conducted, half of U.S. Cellular customers with children said that they used educational activities on a mobile device with their children. Of those customers, 33 percent use math apps, 22 percent use reading apps and 20 percent use pre-school learning apps. You can use smartphones, such as the Samsung Galaxy S 4, to help younger students by downloading free apps, such as Math Practice Flash Cards, to help them practice addition, subtraction, multiplication and division problems, and Political Maps, which shows kids the countries of the world with their capitals and the languages spoken. Older students can self-manage their homework and schedule study time, homework and tests using the free HomeWork app. It lists all of a student’s homework, assignments, exams and due dates in a handy checklist, so that students can check when tasks have been completed and progress has been made.” She adds, “Back to school marks a time when many parents might buy a child their first cellphone. We discovered that while 91 percent of parents either already or plan to set mobile phone usage guidelines for their children, 63 percent indicated they would find it helpful to have a parent-child agreement to guide their ability to supervise children’s usage and behavior with mobile devices. With this in mind, U.S. Cellular recently created a Better Moments Parent-Child Agreement (www.ChildPhoneAgreement.com) to help guide the conversations parents and children have about cellphone usage. It is completely customizable, so families can make it work for their specific needs. Parents can also check school policies and make sure their children know what the rules are for cellphone usage. Furthermore, parents can have even more peace of mind when it comes to kids’ cell phone use with our Family Protector app. With it, parents can set restrictions on when and where kids’ smartphones will work. For example, you can set the app to prevent your child’s phone from working during school hours or to only work for emergency numbers. You also can restrict access to certain websites and phone numbers or even create a geo-fence, so that you receive an alert when your child has left a designated area.” Back to school time can be hectic for parents, students and teachers, but the latest wireless technology tools can help make the school year run smoother. You can turn your smartphone or tablet into a ‘back-to-school command center’ with everything you need to plan, prep and navigate your child’s school year.
Every August brings the return of the “back to school” frenzy. Your schedule goes crazy, kids need to be dropped off at various locations, sports teams are in full action and maybe you’re preparing your child to go off to college. Imagine how challenging this could be if your vehicle decides it has had enough. This unfortunate breakdown can leave you with many questions and concerns. What options do you have? Do you repair it? Do you trade it? Or perhaps you have a new driver in the house and need an additional car, or are sending your child off to college and want them to travel and commute in a safer vehicle. Besides being the best way to eliminate surprise repairs, a well maintained vehicle is incredibly important–not only for safety purposes but for monetary reasons as well. For kids (and their parents), costly car repairs can be a huge budget buster. Costly breakdowns can also affect their ability to be present for classes, activities, or their job. It is always better to find a problem and fix it rather than letting it get worse and having mechanical issues that leave you stranded. If you are shopping for a new vehicle for a first-time driver, teenager or college student, keep your options open and be flexible. Wile you may know what you want, make sure it is also what you need. Many parents simply want the best for their children; however, instead of buying a brand new shiny car for 16-year-old it may be a better idea (and investment) to look for a decent first car that is mechanically sound and can withstand the new driver “learning curve.” While driving a flashy, cool vehicle is an attractive proposition to just about anyone, it is also important that your child is comfortable in the vehicle. This can include having appropriate visibility and easy access/knowledge of the important features such as hazard lights and windshield wipers. Having any vehicle checked out by a qualified, professional mechanic prior to purchase is important, even if you are buying from the most reputable of dealers. This gives you a complete assessment of the vehicle including adequate, functional safety features and can also be the mitigating factor in negotiating a fair deal between the buyer and seller.
There are a lot of different aspects involved in the transition from August to September, and making the necessary adjustments to greater levels of activity, structure, and pressures associated with school can be difficult for both children and parents. Getting a new school year off to a good start can influence your child’s attitude, confidence, and performance both socially and academically. Managing the increased pace of life by planning ahead, being realistic, maintaining a positive attitude, and utilizing local professionals will ensure your success right from the start. We wish everyone great success in the 2013-14 school year!
Balancing work, social, and home commitments is no easy task, which is why the team at Premier Dental offers comprehensive family dental services that can be tailored to fit your family’s busy schedule. Parents who have more than one child are invited to schedule joint appointments for their entire family. This significantly cuts back on the amount of stress that families often associate with dental visits. Finding an experienced office that treats adults and children is a bonus to families who have tight schedules, and are looking for someone to treat the whole family. Focused on preventative care for the very young, teenagers, adults, and seniors in the same building, the Premier Dental team creates relationships with patients that last years. According to Dr. Beninato of Premier Dental, “Recent studies have shown that the sooner children begin receiving regular check-ups, the healthier their mouths will be throughout their lives. Early childhood check-ups are essential in preventing tooth decay, which leads to pain, difficulty eating, and other medical issues. The American Dental Association recommends that every child should visit the dentist by age 1, or as soon as their first tooth appears.” According to a study by the Center for Disease Control, the number of cavities found in children between the ages of two and five has increased 15 percent over the last five years. More than 40 percent of kids today have tooth decay by the time they start kindergarten. Kids should eat a balanced diet that naturally supplies all the nutrients they need to grow. Kids need a balanced healthy diet for their teeth and gums to develop properly.